Machine for separating metal from ores.



-C ROSS.

MACHINE FOR SEPARTING METAL FROM GRES APPLIUATIOH FILED PEB. 12, 1912.

Patented Nov. 9, 19H.

atented ov, f, 2 SHEETSBHBET 2.

ROSS. MACHINE POR SEPARATING METAL mom oRBs. APPLICATION FILED PEBA l2A 1912. 1,045,083.

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CHARLES ROSS, F DENVER, COLORADO.

MACHINE FOR'SPARATI NG METAL FEDELE' description of the invention, such' as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to moire and use the same, rer"- erence being had'to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference malred thereon, which form a part of this speciication.

lily invention relates to improvements in machines more specially adapted for usel in separatingthe precious metal values from their orsgor other material with which they are foufnd mingled in the natural state.

The machine may be employed in the sav` ing on the values from pulverizd quartz or rock, or it may be employed in the saving of free precious metal values'from placer dirt, or loose material with which the old and silver, or other values, are found in a :tree state.

The machine is Well adapted for use as an amalgainator, and liquid mercury may be placed in the pans forming a part o the machine and arranged in compartments separated by.. adjustable partitions for controlling the-flow .of pulp therethrough. At the front and rear ends of each unit are respectively located gates., one for controlling the entrance of the material to the unit, while the other regulates its escape therefrom. ln each unit l may employ copper shavings, c'oated'with mercury, the said shavings being arranged above the pans and adapted to catch particularly light precious metal 'values which remain in suspension in the water, not being heavy enough to settle, and which might not be brought in Contact with the mercury of the pans, either in its tree state, or. as a coating upon the pans. rlhe pans in each unit are arranged in a series, each pan heinU approximately V shaped, and theI pans 2being arranged to over-lap each other and heid in place hy removable 'side pieces, which normally hold the paus in-the proper position for saving,r the metallic values. l/Vhen, however, it 1s necessary to clean iup, `the side pieces, together wil h the adjustable partitions, and gates, may be Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 12, 1912. Serial No.

'top plan view of 'rammen Nor. 1o, 191e. 677,275.

first removed, after which the pans may be taken out, cleaned of their values and replaced in the reverse order. I

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I Will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an emaliodiment thereof.

ln this drawing: Figure l is a side elevationof my improved apparatus, the same being shown partly in section. Fig. 2 is a the same partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2. t is al cross section taken through one of the units on the line 444, Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of" the adjustable partitions employed in each unit of the apparatus'. Fig. 6 is a detail vievT of a located at the discharge emf tremity of eachiunit. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the removable side pieces.

The same reference characters indicate the same parte in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a sluice adapte-d to receive the material to be treated as placer dirt, the-said sluice being constructed and a 'ranged to remove. the coarser material, as the roelr and larger pieces of gangue, to prevent them from encumhering and clogging the units of the apparatus.

The units, each of which in its entirety, I will designate by the numeral (l, arel arranged along one side ci the sluice, to receive material from the latter which is provided with gates E for regulating the escape f the material into the several units. Between the water level and the bottom of the sluice are vlocated mesh diaphragme 8, 9 and i0, which are of dilcrent mesh and are ranged to screen the material which passes to the respective units 6, arranged alongside the sluice opposite the said diaphragms. '.lhe diaphragm 8 of the finest mesh, the diaphragm 9 somewhat coarser, and the diaphragm .l0 of still coarser mesh. "here are three units t3 arranged to receive the material which passes through the respective diaphragme. By virtue of this variation in the mesh of the diaphragms, all the material containing any precious metal values, il, is believed may he removed from the muss under treatment. lt is evident, however, that the meish, as well` as the numher of the diaphragme, together with the corrosponding,l separating units, may be reg- (ill 'i ooi? trontf1 wurdly und lorwnrdly through :in ini-ifi.nig, 13, Controlled b y the gutes into i linkwardly located rotvptnolo ll, zirrmxgtu'l, in, front. of euch Separating unit (l. linnn these units is provided with two pui-:tl vertically disposcd sido walls` if, whit-li ii i doSired, nniy bo urrnngod to forni in ronnection `Vith the sluictf, :i outfitinitially, :stiau1 low lilnxilisolnligo owning in in-lid t' W'ithin theso sido mills, :1nd ing on mi i bottoni lll o't' ouch unit, nro ponil? up proxinnitoly V-shupud :ind hitting longitudY nnlly disposed [hinges lt), whirli ini-u:- dinto tho extremities uit tho unil, orifrlup each other, the (lungen of any inn-limitinnun being urrniigod ono arbore, :nid tho other 'iinlow the Hongos ot' udjanznt pu in ordm' to tnuihtuto tho Securing of puns in place, und at tho staino tinto pm'. iii'. thuitl ready roinovablhty. The tornino non, or

that located at tho Yforvan'd' olrvniity olf the unit7 und cxtonding into tlm mi' t'irn;

or conipzn'tinont 'l-l, hns its llungn Sorted in :l rcfoss 3U lornwd in n. ruinlm mont 2l of the front mill 213 of tho unis. while tho reurmost. pini haw its outornnint [lange 19 in ongngonnnt, with n im forlncdin tho rieur vnd will ot' tho nl Locntedjwithin thi; Sido walls. ifi olf muh unit, und onggngingi; tho nppositff units puns, whcrgeby ,tho hittur nrohuid arrondi 1n place, :iro roniovnhlo sido pintor; Effi, Those piet-.og hzwo porti; 2G zit. tin-.ir iowor edges reduced in lhitlintsss; :and znlzipttd to pass outside tho opposio tendo ot" thu pan. f. (See Fig. 4). 'llnso nido pieoof also tnir'i shoulders Q8, which ront; upon tho oppor edges of the ends of the pans. ooin'rfl to the side pieces on their inner wrtizf-ta, :uni disposed longitudinally til orient, or strips 29, of wood or oth/1' rinilubln nuiterial :i-fjlnpted to form n ori", 'lor wrn mesh members 3l),j tho hill" n; learn torni-- ing n support for nintul Shui/ings. llt., protembly composed of @oppor und corded with mercury to facilitato tho saving ot thix prccious metal values pi'isiaingthrough tho units with tho pulp, und in susliinsion;

Each unit is divided into .1 nunihoi' ot` compartments by :nouns of trunsvmso pnrtitions 32, whos@ outer edges ongugo gl'oovns 33, formed in the Side pieces 25 :1nd extrnding the entire width of the Suid pit-ws on their inner surfaces. Above the groovts 8.. are SlotSB-, which extend vntiroly through the side pieces. Hence, the grooves und slotu nro om: its.,

u tlun forni u shouldn' .'l, upon uinlrhr itil olE nucl partition is t n wrist. in ordini to pi'isit'iwly limit downward niowinonl. l\ho.'o0utfhshonh doi' olf nach luiitilioi'i 3:2, is :l Sirius of per- .fnilsipod to revolve pins 38, ,he dnwnl. nnn'unmiil. of i t'ff their hSlmuldt'iis. llt? ronio in? nhonldrrf: li of tlm nido duit thor i if. il iflrnrnwnrdly into the ozinfi pw sont` boing respoctivoly dii-*Quily :ihovc the renters of the ruspoiftiw prima. lioni-i mi hut topa llili By :U1-:inging tho purti- Shull cxtfgnd hielow' the tht,-

tho nmterinl in pnasing .mh unit, conipelhrd to tado; :1 inidulzi lug oourso. which iff. woll ln .'zisif tho puin: li" Contain free nnfrcnry, tho l'rzgo mehr! which" will bi1 :mwd therein to thi;- oxwnt llnit thor-fo i'iiluos in :i comparutiwljy rlmtn forni :rrr lnonght into Contact tht? nimifut'f.' by .'irtini ol' the woll i will. tlnw. unitair; for luei'riny; iiirhrs or nuggets ol gold l in thu mit@ hy virtue nl lluiir giuiity. lin thin i'onl'inct tho fatiinl tiny' bo trfinivd 1-1 vonvoir tratt nw this unitn :im woll` :iduptod for lufnvitfz' lif,` o i'riflois in il tht; unit u :noly the nl: in

ll .fx ...ln a

pura

n uro Lon` oitf tln lortu in in tho x'nutcrnil under 'rlrntod in tlm drawing, (sich Fig. 's lousiud :it tho forward oxtnrmnunil :e nmnbri ilu, whioh occui ith hn partitions ii' function, vx-

ltziwmi'd end of .i bont upper itw'toini.. :i in loffrtnd 1 r tim nuit. ovini; ctpiippfgf': txt eternity lil for t-onrieniiiia hund hold. 'lhiS gute if; ot' thu finnio .u ni zonStl'uC- tion uf: tho purtitioiis 2li). ln thu arrangeniunt disclosod in Fig. 3, th.. util lit' .i.-: raised rolniircly high., or so that. itis lowui und 0C- t'npivs :i powition upproximutoly on :1. level with iluS top of tho adjncont. pun t7, while thv purl itionsa Si! from front' to rom' :ire griduully lowered, lczwing1 spawn 4l hetwevn tho lower @nds of tho purtitio und the bottoms ol thv puns of diminishing hvighl.. whereby, thooitimilly, the nulp muy he Suid to assumo litlorent lovol in tluA shaw izo lill? ings 31 in the various compartments as indicated at' A, B, C and D, respectively. This showing is intended to indicate approximately the manner in which the pulp l l l l will arrange itself in the shavings of the various compartments of the different units.

AIf it is desired to raise the height to which the pulp will rise in the copper shavings,

the rear gate 42 is raised, and by virtue of g the slu the factI that this gate is provided with a discharge opening 43 formed intermediate its extremities, the raising of the-gate will necessarily elevate the lower edge et the gate Abounding the gate opening, and consequentlycompel the pulp to remain in the unit atadepth slightly greater than the height of the lower edgeof the gate open- ,in 4 3 and thelbottom of the unit.

rom this explanation it will be understood that a very satisfactory adjustment of the gates andvpartitions of each unit, is practicable in handling material in my im proved apparatus. "The gate 42 is located in front of the open1ng24 in the rear wall of the unit, and

may be held in any desired position of adjustment by means ofa fastening screw i4 assed through a vertically disposed slot 45 formed inthe centrally located upward projection 46 of th ate. The lower extremity of this slot is retivel large, as shown at 47, so Ythat the, head o the fastening screw may pass thegh the slot at its lower eX- tremity.y while at all osit-ions above the lowerend of the slot he screw head will over-lap the gate on opposite sides of the slot, and maintain the latter in place.

vIn order to lock the removable parts of each unit securely in place, the side walls 15 are provided with pivoted buttons, or fasytening devices, 48, which when thrown to 'the position shown in Fig. 3, press upon the upper edges'of the side pieces 25 Aand lock jthe latter in their lowest position,` whereby the pans are also held tightly in place.

` As illustrated inthe drawing, it is assumed that all the valuable portions of the material, which under ordinary conditions issuiciently heavy to settle in the bottom ofthe sluice, will pass through the ldiaphragms 8, 9 and 10, and thus be delivered -to'ilthevunits for treatment. However, should it-ihappen that there are float values in the form-.ef slime, which either rest on top of the pulp or are suspended near the top thereof, provision is made in. the sluice he- \yond the separating units for diverting this oat material and causing it to pass outwardly through cells of a receptacle i9 containing copper shavings 50, preferably coated with mercury, thesaid shavings beingsupported on screens lcmof suitable mesh supported in the receptacle 49 in. a suitable position above the bottom of thelatter. in order to divert the float material from 'the `will be readily understood.

sluice into the receptacle, the latter being located out side of the wall of the sluice, l employ an inclined detiector 52, ho-'c rear extremity, or the down stream end, is located farther rearwardly than its forward extremity. rlhis deiector consists of a piece of suitable material set edge-wise in u diagonal position between the side walls of ice, the same being of sullicient width to dip somewhat below the top or level of the pulp in the sluice. The rear extremity of this deflector terminates at' one side of the sluicc just beyond an opening 53 in the side wall, whereby the float material is directed into the shavings of the receptacle 49, the water being compelled to pass downwardly through the shavings of a compartment 54 and up throughthe shavings of the compartment 55, by virtue of a centrally located partition 56, whose lower extremity is located a short distance above 'the bottom of the receptacle, leaving a space 57, for the water to pass from one compartment to the other, and thence upwardly and over a' platform 58 and through an opening 59 back into the sluice beyond the float delector 52,. lThe compartments of the sluice below the mesh diaphragme, are hopper shaped, since their side walls 60, are inclined inwardly as they extend downwardly, thus making it practicable to discharge from the sluice into the various units through openings 13, and through mouths 6l below the gate 7, of relatively small width.

From the foregoing description, the use and operationof my improved construction be fed to the various units through the instrumenas heretofore explained,4 e manner as may be desired. In any event, the pulp is caused to travel through the various units, the said pulp being ot' the same, or different grades, as may be desired, the operation being continued until the pans, together with the copper shavings above the pans, are sufficiently laden with precious metal values to require a clean up. In this event, it only becomes necessary to loosen the securing buttons 48 from the side pieces 25 of the units, after which the said side pieces may be removed.

Previous to the removal of the side pieces, the partitions and gatesmay be lifted out, the sl'ravings and their supporting Screens removed, and finally, the copper pans. The shavings may he retorted in any suitable manner for the purpose of saving the values contained therein, while the pans, together' with the partitions and gates, which may also be composed of copper and coated with mercury if desired, may be subjected to the usual treatment for the purpose of removing the amalgam therefrom.

to be treated may of the apparatus tality of the sluice, or any other suitabl The material iso Having thus described my invention, what claim is:

l. In apparatus uit the cla: combination of sluico havn cation therewith mcanz'sgtor sa the heavier' concentrates, a float collector arranged alongside the sluice beyond the said means, 'a deilector arranged diagonally across the sluicc above the bottoni thcreot', said sluice having openings in the side thereof above and below the lower end of the dcflector and communicating with the float collector.

2. The combination of a receptacle oi greater length than width, amalgamable pans arranged in the bottom oil the recep tacle to form a continuous undulating bottom from front to rear, transversely ar ranged partitions vertically adjustable and suitably spaced within the receptacle, the said partitions heilig located approximately directly above the lower parts of the pans, means for controlling the escape of' material at the rear end o'f the receptacle, metal shavings coated with mercury supported above the pans and adapted to be Hooded by ulp passing through the receptacle in the crm of an undulating stream, und suit-able means for determining the height to which the pulp will rise in the metal shavings, substantially as described.

3. The combinfitifm with an elongated receptacle and means for discharging thereto material to be treated in the form of pulp, or in combination with water, of pans arranged in the bottom of the receptacle to form an undulating structure from front Ained, the conununlto rear, said pans being readily detachable,` means for securing the pans 1n place when.

the machine is in operation, transversely arranged partitions vertically adjustable and suitably spaced `Within the portion. of the receptacle equipped with the said pans, mesh members'arranged between the part-itions above the pans, metal eliavings coated with mercury supported Within the com-- painting out i t l l i g partmonts upon the said screens and suitaole means located, at Ythe front and rear of the body ol the rece itaele for regulating the depth to which pulp passing through the recqitacle will rise within the metal shavings, substantially as described.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a rece ntacle, means located in the bottom thereof orcausing pulp passing therethrough `to assume the form of an undulating body, transversely arran ed par- .titions suitably spaced within the ody of 'the receptacle and arranged to cooperate with the undulating bottom, means arranged at the front and rear ends of the receptacle for r rulating the passage of material throner the body of the latter, mercur coatedmetal shavings located wthin't e receptacle between the partitions thereof, a

mesh bottom upon which the said shaving` are supported at a suitable distance above the bottom of the receptacle, and suitable means located above the receptacle for discharging material into the front part of the latter, to give the material passing through the receptacle the desired pressure head, for the purpose set forth.

The combination with a receptacle of amalgamable pans arranged in the bottom of the rece tacle to form a continuous undulating sur .ace from front to rear, the transverse partitions arranged a proximutel above the lowest points of sai pans, mes material mounted between said dpartitions, metallic shavings, mercury coute supported upon said mesh material, means for controlling the entrance of pulp at one end of the receptacle and the exit of gangue at 4 CHARLES ROSS.

Witnesses F. E. lilovvnu,l A. Enum' OBmEN. 

